Spray device for washing machines



Dec. 8, 1959 N. s. M EWEN 0 SPRAY DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES FiledApril 26. 1956 IHHHHIHHIHHHHIHI llllH IN VEN TOR.

.fl bgmala JIJIvEwezq United States Patent 2,915,890 SPRAY DEVICE FORWASHING MACHINES Norman S. McEwen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., assignor toThe Uni-Mac Company, Div. of Helpy-Selfy Service System, Inc., FortLauderdale, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application April 26, 1956,Serial No. 580,796 2 Claims. (Cl. 68-148) This invention pertains towashing machines, and particularly to improvements in connection withthe rinsing operations thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means in connectionwith the extractor basket of power washing machines for improving thejet spray action in order to make more perfect the rinsing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide spray means associatedwith the revolving extractor basket to insure a thorough distribution ofthe spray water through the clothes during rotation of the basket thusto insure a more perfect rinse.

A still further object of the invention is to provide spray meansassociated with the rotating extractor basket of a washing machine,operating in such manner as to break the jets of rinse water in suchmanner that they will be deflected in a multitude of directionsthroughout the clothes contained within the basket, thus bringing abouta thorough rinse of the clothes in the shortest possible time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jet interceptor on thelid or cover for the basket so positioned that when in closed positionover the basket, a dome or deflector carried thereby will lie in thestream from the jet nozzles to deflect and break up the spray and todirect the latter in a multitude of directions over and within thebasket.

A further and particular object of the invention is to provide means inconjunction with a jet interceptor as set forth of such construction asto permit the introduction therethrough of a souring solution toneutralize alkalinity so that such substance may be introduced to theextractor basket during the rinsing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hollow or chamberedjet interceptor in conjunction with the lid or cover for the extractorbasket for the purpose of deflecting or breaking up the spray and at thesame time which will permit the introduction to the interceptor of asouring solution to be operated upon by the partial vacuum createdtherein during the rinsing operation to draw the solution into theextractor chamber.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, parts broken away, of a well known type ofwashing machine and illustrating in association therewith a jetinterceptor constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, with partsbroken away, and with the lid in raised position, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale,taken through the jet interceptor and the lid and illustrating themanner in which a souring solution may be introduced to the interior ofthe interceptor.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the washing machinegenerally is indicated at 5 and includes end compartments 6 enclosingthe washing apparatus, and a central or rinsing compartment indicated at7 having an upstanding spindle 8 centrally of its bottom and supportingthe extractor basket 9. It will be understood that the extractor basket9 may be of any preferred type or design and usually includes a circularstructure having perforated walls and bottom, and is open at its top toreceive the clothes. This extractor basket, as is also understood,rotates by operation of the spindle 8 at relatively high speed duringthe rinsing operation.

The machine is equipped with a lid or cover 10 which, when in closedposition, overlies the central compartment 7 and seals the same againstany tendency to leakage during the rinsing operation. In the presentinstance, this lid or cover is hinged as at 11 at the rear side of themachine so that it may be swung conveniently to open or closedpositions.

Arranged centrally upon the underside of the lid or cover 10 is adeflector indicated at 12. This deflector may take any desirable form orshape, but in the present instance, is a dome or semi-spherical elementprojecting outwardly from the bottom surface of the lid and terminatingadjacent to the upper edge of the extractor basket 9 when the lid is inclosed position. It will be observed that this dome lies substantiallyin the axis of the spindle 8, which supports the extractor basket.

The jet spray nozzles are indicated at 13 and are secured to the ends ofpipes 14 leading to the hot and cold water supply sources. These pipesextend into the rear side of the washing machine near the top thereof,and the jets 13 are so connected with their respective pipes as todirect their sprays against the deflector or dome member 12 when thelatter overlies the center of the basket with the lid in closedposition. It will be observed that the pipes 14 enter the extractorcompartment at opposite sides of the latter so that the sprays from jets13 strike the deflector 12 at substantially a degree angle with respectto each other. It is apparent, therefore, that water sprays projectedfrom jets 13 will strike the dome or deflector 12 directly above theaxis of the rotating basket 9, deflecting these jets of liquid in alldirections immediately above the open upper end of the basket. Thisaction brings about a thorough disintegration of the water streams anddistributes the eflluent throughout the entire inner area of theextractor basket. This insures a thorough mixing of the water streamswith the clothes contained within the rotating basket, thus thoroughlypenetrating all of the clothes confined by the basket and thus insuringa more thorough rinse than has heretofore been possible. By thisstructure it is also apparent that a thorough rinse of the contents ofthe basket may be brought about in shorter time than has heretofore beenpossible, thus working an economy in motive power as well as conservingwater.

It is frequently desirable that a souring solution or other chemicals beintroduced to the extractor during the rinsing operation in order toneutralize alkalinity or for other purposes. My invention accomplishessimple means by which this may be carried out. In the present instance,the deflector or dome 12 is illustrated as being hollow andsubstantially semi-spherical. The lid 10 is provided with an opening 15which communicates with the interior of the deflector 12 centrallythereof. This opening has its edges deflected downwardly in the man- 15may pass to the interior of the extractor basket. Should theintroduction of a chemical be desired, it is poured through the opening15 after the lid is moved to closed positiomwhereupon it passes bygravity through the openin s 17 o he in e ior of the a ke Addi nally, itll be app ent th p e re f the liq drf om the jets 13 against theexterior surfaces of the deflector l 'will tend to create a partialvacuum within the deflector thus augmenting the flow of the chemicalmaterial through the openings 17. Inasmuch as the water projected fromthe jets 13 will reach the entire undersurface or the deflector 12, itis apparent that chemical issuing through the openings 17 will bethoroughly mixed with the liquid so as to be evenly distributedthroughout the area of the extractor basket.

I claim:

L In s ng m ne'h in'g a r nsing comp ment, a rotatable spindle supportedcentrally on the bottom of the compartment, an extractor basket mountedon said spindle for relatively high speed rotation during rinsingoperation, a hinged cover for the compartment, 21 semi-sphericaldeflector dome secured to and projecting downwardly from the undersideof the cover in coaxial alignment with the basket and disposed close tobut entirely above said basket when the cover is in closed position, andjets for rinsing water from an exterior Water supply in said rinsingcompartment in spaced angular resaid dome directly above the axis of therotating basket, whereby said streams are deflected by'the dome in alldirections immediately above the upper end of the basket, and whereby athorough disintegration of the water streams and distribution of theeffluent throughout the entire area of the basket andthe clothes thereinis obtained.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cover is providedwith a central opening and guide means coaxial with the dome and basket,said dome being hollow and having its edges in sealed engagement withthe underside of the cover; said dome being provided with a plurality ofopenings in its lowermost portion, whereby a lationship to one anotherand positioned at the top por- 2 tion of the compartment above thebasket for directing substantially horizontal streams across and abovethe top of the basket against the deflector dome and striking souringsolution or chemical may be introduced into the dome and passes bygravity to the interior of the basket augmented by the pressure of theliquid from the jets against the exterior surface of the deflector domecreating a partial vacuum within the dome.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,390,678 De Laney Sept. 13, 1921 1,728,153 Donnellon Sept. 10, 19292,167,540 Welsh July 25, 1939 2,350,218 De Remer May 30, 1944 2,703,974Clark Mar. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,210 Great Britain t of 1909144,315 Australia Nov. 26, 1951

